For most, summer vacation means white sand beaches and a much-needed break from their mundane lives. For college students, it means summer classes and working our tails off at minimum wage. Much like the way a squirrel collects and stores nuts for winter, we choose to save our money. As the school year came to a close, I began searching high and low for a job. It wasn't until one day I was standing in line at Sweet Eugene's when a total stranger tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I had any previous experience as a babysitter. Looking back, it seems odd to approach an unfamiliar face and make such a proposal, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures. In high school, I babysat for a family of three on a regular basis. I loved those kids as if they were my own and thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with them, so when this babysitting gig fell into my lap, I thought "JACKPOT!"

It wasn't long before I found myself hyped up on espresso and knee deep in coffee house debt. There were four of them and I had yet to master the art of being in multiple places at once; I was outnumbered. I had been working 10 hours a day, five days a week. At the age of 19, I was essentially a single mom of four. The kids ranged in age with the youngest being just 18 months and the oldest, 9 years. However, they put aside their differences to make my life, for lack of a better term, a living Hell. I was bending over backwards to please them, but nothing made them quite as happy as tormenting me. I made the mistake of exposing myself as a "scaredy cat," and they used my fears against me. So much for little girls being sugar and spice and everything nice; I was dealing with criminal masterminds. The hellions were notorious for placing cicadas in my hair when I wasn't looking and even went as far as to throw a dead snake at me. I had a reputation for being good with kids, but for some God forsaken reason, their sole purpose was to push me to the point of getting my tubes tied. Understandably so, I was baffled when their mother went on and on about how much they loved me and looked forward to seeing me every morning. What kinda game were these kiddos playing?

I have never been a quitter so I stuck with it for what seemed like a lifetime of pain and agony. The kids were supposedly devastated to see me leave, but I can't say the feeling was mutual. Although I was absolutely miserable for a solid three months, I did learn a lot about what it means to be a mother and how I plan on raising my kids someday. Until then, I give mad props to my momma and all of the other women who make sacrifices on a daily basis for their families.